Mirrors, Love and Jenny McCarthy

That’s what autism is about, right?—-mirrors, love, and Jenny McCarthy. Not exactly, you say……..

This is a post about autism though the three subjects listed in the title might suggest otherwise. True, if it is make-up, romance or former Playmates that you wish to read about, you need look no farther than the columns to the right of this post, to the blogs on beauty, dating, or celebrities: For better or for worse, this blog tends to discuss topics of a painful nature, of an academic persuasion, and on controversial topics (“what causes autism?”).

When the subject is autism, big news items are potential novel treatments—such as oxytocin, a hormone that helps women to both give birth and to breast-feed, and that also (as a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article notes) plays a “critical role…in sexual pleasure” (hence its being called the “love hormone”), and also new studies about the workings of the brain, such as that on mirror neurons, which are a type of brain cell that seem to be involved in abilities such as empathy and in perceiving another individual’s intentions. (Though see also an article in Slate that explains what the myth of mirror neurons gets wrong about the human brain.) Even bigger news: Eric Fombonne of Montreal Children’s Hospital at McGill University at a May 4th news conference saying that

“It’s clear there is no evidence of mercury poisoning in autism.”

Fombonne and his colleagues at McGill took hair and blood samples from over 150 children, half with autism and half not and (as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer notes) “found no difference in the mercury levels between the two groups of children.” He also had some strong words to say regarding the “detoxifying” treatment, chelation:

“A child died as a result of chelation not too long ago,” Fombonne said. It is important for parents to pay careful attention to the bulk of the scientific evidence, he said, and not potentially do harm to their children based simply on mistrust of the scientific establishment.

A PedMed article on chelation highlights the controversy surrounding a treatment that “bears the government’s seal of approval for detoxifying the body, most often after an industrial accident or environmental exposure to hazardous materials”—–it does not have such a “seal of approval” for treating autistic children who are not (as one doctor is quoted as saying) “‘metabolic train wrecks.’”

They are children needing to be taught, as children are, and in the ways best suited to their particular cognitive, sensory, and other needs.

Saying that children need to be educated first and foremost seems like a fairly innocuous statement to me—-though when I stated this in a previous post, I realized that, in autism circles, such a statement can lead to various comments of ire and angst being fired off, perhaps because such a statement de-emphasizes biomedical treatments and a biomedical understanding of autism. Accordingly, before anyone fires off anything in this vein, remember, this post is in part about “love” and, via the mention of mirror neurons, empathy. One has one’s views on what the right kind of teaching methodology (ABA; RDI; nothing in particular) is, whether or not a child should take psychotropic medication, whether autism can be “cured,” etc., and can we take the perspective of those who think opposite to us on these topics?

McCarthy added that she has come to understand why she was given an autistic child, because, she said, “I am willing to talk about it, and go deep with the emotional feelings.”

……………………….

“I just want moms … who have children out there with autism … to know that I am coming back in a few months with this book, and I am planning on using my big, giant, controversial mouth to blow the lid off a lot of things related to autism to give moms hope,” she said. “It is so needed.”

Concerning what kinds of “things related to autism” might be in her book, some hints can perhaps be found at McCarthy’s website Indigo Moms. Some topics discussed are:

Angel Connection (Jenny’s blog notes that there are fora on her website to discuss “angels, healing, conscious parenting, or cute uplifting stories about your own angel at home.”)

Yes, some of those topics are in direct contradiction to statements made by, for instance, Eric Fombonne, earlier in this post. But this is, as mentioned earlier, a post about autism and if there is one thing I have learned about life with autism and research and claims about autism, it is that a lot of contradictory statements get made—sort of like when you look in a funhouse mirror and you see yourself, distorted. Sort of the way love can ache when you are (as McCarthy and I are) the mothers of autistic sons who both struggle too much, and whose every small accomplishment (Charlie said “cold water” on his own this evening) are so tremendous.

What is the purpose of all that research being presented at IMFAR other than (from the IndigoMoms website) “helping our children shine”?

Mirrors, love, and Jenny McCarthy. Maybe that is what it’s all about, after all.

My tarot card-reading sister-in(woo)-law will go ape over this book. Are there any sane voices in the uber-kooky celebrity world?

http://lisa-jedi.blogspot.com/ Lisa/Jedi

I must admit, my heart sank when I read that she would “blow the lid off” some things “related to autism”… what kind if hope does she plan to provide that hasn’t been pushed by quacks & crazies already? What kind of hope is that? We don’t need loud voices proclaiming fringey “treatments”, we need loud voices proclaiming that all autistic people, no matter where they fall on the spectrum, are people of value…

Another Voice

It seems to never end. When your career tanks or book sales drop, just say something really stupid about autism. Then you can be “controversial” and back in the news.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

I guess it’s the celebrity-ization of autism—–we’ll have to keep our voices and our kids’ out there, however strong or soft.

LB

What is good about trying to make claims that people on the spectrum are not human just like everyone else. Doesn’t matter how you try and dress it up – it is segregating and ostracising.

Em

As someone who is on the spectrum (Asperger’s syndrome), I detest the notion of being treated as less of a person because of that. Can’t people just accept the fact that we’re all different and move on? Or must they insist on finding some very esoteric, wierd explanation in a futile attempt to explain why we’re different from other people?

I commend you (and others) for making an honest attempt to communicate what living with someone on the autism spectrum or being on the autism spectrum is like. Keep up your good work and spreading the news.

-Em

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

Thank you, Em! Please keep letting me know what you think—-I’ve learned a lot (and am still learning) from so many who are on the spectrum.

Lolasmom

Yeah, when I heard about this book I had to laugh. I don’t think it will sell much here in the midwest – a little too cooky for our tastes.

a reader

PLEASE don’t tell me Jenny McCarthy is jumping on the autism bandwagon as a fashion statement! She comes across to me as someone who might do that. Anyone who lives with autism, anywhere on the spectrum, or knows someone who does knows there is nothing fashionable about it.

Jenny seems to be doing what she feels is right for her son, whether or not to listen and/or agree with her is a personal decision. If you don’t agree with it then ignore it. Why rip on her because she’s doing what she believes? Isn’t that what we all do. Don’t we all have the ability to filter out the information we judge to be ‘kooky’? Shoot, it something worked for her son, I’d say it’s worth at least having an open mind about.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

It will be interesting to see how McCarthy describes her son and her story, and the treatments she has chosen.

Kara

I agree with Juliet & Kristina. I work with 2 autistic boys seperately. And yesterday one of them had a “bad day.” We all have those. But it broke my heart because there was nothing I or anyone else could do to comfort him! I believe that Jenny Mccarthy coming out with her book is nothing but positive! How dare anyone claim it as being a fashion statement this book!

**Also a note to whoever started this- When you were writing about the different edu. programs for autistic children, you didn’t mention Greenspans theory. Both my kids have been working on the floor time & we have seen dramatic progress. It teaches ore function. Where as ABA teaches more repetitve processing & language. However there is no engagement. Which essentially is what the child needs is engagement!**

Good Day to All!

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

I’ve posted elsewhere here about Floortime—-thank you for bringing it up here. My son has benefited greatly from ABA, which (as provided by his Lovaas therapists) is much more “flexible” than it sometimes has the reputation for. Great to know you have been seeing results with the children that you work with.

Chrissy

My 13 yr old son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrom / Borderline High functioning Autism. We knew from the age of 2 that something “wasn’t quite right” he didn’t do any of the “milestones” within the appropriate age, Potty training was successful at the age of 4 1/2 and he didn’t speak until he was almost 4.. Not even “Momma” We’ve had family members “whispering” behind our backs .. One Family member even so much as stated “We’re bad parents” and that’s why our Son is the way he is. We’ve heard it all, I fight with the School System Each year with a new round of teachers who look down on me, My Son is a Self-Stimulator (applies pressure on his hands when the class room noise level is too much for him) I had to fight with one Teacher who wanted to put him on the stage during lunch hour infront of all the other children… as a form of humiliation to get him to “stop”. Dealing with our Son’s Autism is nothing compared to having to deal with Ignorant people in the Education system and Even Family and Friends who just don’t “get it”

If Jenny Mccarthy can help Advocate Autism Awareness, I don’t care what kind of Kooky things she comes up with!

Jamie Jack

I have a 3 year old autistic kid who is the most wonderful child in the world (apart from when he screams!).

The hardest part with bringing up a child with autism is other peoples ignorance of the condition so regardless what Jennys reasons are for writing the book anything that helps rid people of this ignorance is a help.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

I am wondering, indeed, at what she conveys autism to be in her book——I know what you mean about ignorance, and ignorant people.

vincent

Chrissy, your earlier post is well said!

I was once told that, “not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowlege.”

I’m proud of you all. Never surrender!

Raven

I clicked on Jenny McCarthy’s links and all of them came up “Page Not Found.” That in itself is very telling.

http://JennyMcCarthy Jennifer Shaffer

The things written above about “lIt’s clear there is no evidence of mercury poisoning in autism” are comnpletely false. The only thing a hair sample shows is what the body is excreting on it’s own. Mercury hides itself in the soft tissues of the body which is the brain and the gut. So in order to get somwhat of a picture of the load a body is carrying would be to put the individual on a chealtor and take a 6 hour sambple of urine. But even then you may not get it. It took 8 months on chelation for my sons mercury load to start coming out. Third day into the chelation process he began speaking in sentences.
Also the child who “died from chelation” was actually given the wrong drug. He did not die from chelation, but from doctor’s error of administering the wrong medication. Please get your facts straight before you write these things.

Abubakar Tariq Nadama died because of a medical error. He was given a substance that was NOT a chelator. Every medical procedure has risks.

This is one child who died as a result of a medical error. It was absolutely tragic and sadly, deaths from medical errors are too common. His father was a physician who undersood the risks inherent in an IV procedure.

How many kids have tardive dyskinesia as a result of risperdal which is a commonly prescribed drug for autism? Even without trying other interventions first as the drug insert recommends, physicians prescribe it often without telling parents that there are potential non-reversible side effects.

It’s not as if traditional methods for treating autism are without risks.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

Yes, Dr. Roy Kerry (according to Dr. Kenneth Bock) gave “the wrong drug during chelation treatments.” One wonders if Dr. Kerry described this risk to the Nadamas? I would hesitate to take my child to a medical practitioner who did not explain any side effects.

http://www.rettdevil.org Kassiane

a) actually it wasn’t an error. Kerry doesn’t stock any other EDTA. And EDTA doesn’t chelate mercury–which has nothing to do with autism. It IS an effective chelator of calcium, which is HOW IT KILLED A FIVE YEAR OLD (caps intended).

b) TD is generally reversible. Death isn’t. I think Risperdal is overRX’d for autism, but comparing involuntary movements, which do indeed suck, to death, which is permanant and sucks a whole lot more, is beyond logical fallacy.

darlene hewitt

my son was finally diagnosed in june ’06 after three years of trying to find out what was going on with him. now, he’s in an autistic support class, with a wonderful teacher, and aide. he also has a therapist that i tell people, is our “gift from God!” i feel that ANY attention that is given to austism is good. i’m so tired of having to tell people “no he’s not being bad, he’s autistic” i have a hard enough time trying to get family to understand, let alone strangers.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

It’s great to hear from you, Darlene. Hope things have gotten easier for your family and for your son. best wishes—

Cristina

I was really looking forward to what she has to say. Unfortunately, we live in a society where most people believe that science has the answer.

I’ve been psychic a great chunk of my life and I have 2 high-functioning ASD kids, who are gifted and happy. I also deal with many children with ADHD/ADD, GDD, Down’s, etc. AND I KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS ARE THINKING BUT NOBODY IS LISTENING BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY LOOKING AT THE BEHAVIORS. It’s a shame because these children are beautiful and brilliant.

Just because the discussion falls esoteric it doesn’t make it weird. Is science really going to save us all? Where does our soul fit in the equation of our existence?

I really think it was brave for her to step forward and say this part of autism, to think she has a career to worry about. I gave up explaining a long time ago but I know that these parents are going to come back to me and ask how they can help heal themselves and their kids very soon.

http://www.youravon.com/tambragunter Tammie

For all the moms like me who have a son or daughter with asperger syndrome i feel your pain and i have a 14 yr old son diagnoised at ten finally of having Asperger Syndrome. I have 2 other sons one with allergies and asthma age 9 and a six yr old son with a speech delay. I would love to hear from other moms who have kids with Asperger Syndrome.

http://www.myspace.com/asoutherntouch renee

First off I don’t personally feel Jenny’s theory is all that far fetched. We have been told verbally that our son has Aspergers. However my husband will NOT allow him to be labeled as such. All of us in our own way is “wierd” and this simply is how he is. We have had to change our parenting style to accomodate him. I grew up being taught you have to mold the child to you and with child number one I firmly believed that…now I see her self esteem isn’t quiet what it could be, child number 2 I followed the belief that if your baby is crying pick her it wasn’t spoiling only that she was well loved she is my invensible child and now my son we are learning to work with his quirkiness and when you do life is great. One thing becomes out of order and he can’t handle life. I tried for the first 6 years of his life to mold him to our life and since reading and studying more on Aspergers the past year and changing how we parent life has been yes frustrating but so much better. I could always see the brilliance he has but never could quiet understand him totally. Everyday I see a little more clearly. And with the sudden rush of “Autism” out there in recent years is it not possbile they are the new wave of evolution?? Maybe Jenny has a point there. We have been fortunate to have a school that is willing to work with and around him. We struggled the first part of 1st grade last year as he ended up with a very wrong teacher for him and it took us 6 weeks to get him to feel comfortable to return. He hated the color red for months, he constantly said what like he was in trouble or guilty and zoned pretty badly that it was best to leave him alone in his world and not disrupt him too much. It took moving and changing schools to get him past this and even now that we have moved again his only first fear was what if it is like that one school. His teacher put all his fears to rest, he was comfortable and sent me away. Because of the one school last year he is now repeating the 1st grade. Would he have had to w/o that I don’t know and can’t speculate on it. I know how bright it is and grateful others can see it as well. This years teacher happens to have been an ex Special Ed teacher and does not believe in labels only to figure out what makes each child tick and work with that to help them succeed and if she needs outside help she will find it.

My son is very literal and if things happen differently than he was taught he will argue the point with you and let you know it does not work this way. It has taken changing in that to let him know in the beginning that THIS time we are doing something like this we will see next time how we will do this same thing. I have learned I cannot say where are you shoes I now say hey dude you forgot your shoes. If I ask where they are he has no clue and has an immediate meltdown. If I make it a statement he is humorous about it and laughing and runs along to find them.

http://www.myspace.com/asoutherntouch renee

First off I don’t personally feel Jenny’s theory is all that far fetched. We have been told verbally that our son has Aspergers. However my husband will NOT allow him to be labeled as such. All of us in our own way is “wierd” and this simply is how he is. We have had to change our parenting style to accomodate him. I grew up being taught you have to mold the child to you and with child number one I firmly believed that…now I see her self esteem isn’t quiet what it could be, child number 2 I followed the belief that if your baby is crying pick her it wasn’t spoiling only that she was well loved she is my invensible child and now my son we are learning to work with his quirkiness and when you do life is great. One thing becomes out of order and he can’t handle life. I tried for the first 6 years of his life to mold him to our life and since reading and studying more on Aspergers the past year and changing how we parent life has been yes frustrating but so much better. I could always see the brilliance he has but never could quiet understand him totally. Everyday I see a little more clearly. And with the sudden rush of “Autism” out there in recent years is it not possbile they are the new wave of evolution?? Maybe Jenny has a point there. We have been fortunate to have a school that is willing to work with and around him. We struggled the first part of 1st grade last year as he ended up with a very wrong teacher for him and it took us 6 weeks to get him to feel comfortable to return. He hated the color red for months, he constantly said what like he was in trouble or guilty and zoned pretty badly that it was best to leave him alone in his world and not disrupt him too much. It took moving and changing schools to get him past this and even now that we have moved again his only first fear was what if it is like that one school. His teacher put all his fears to rest, he was comfortable and sent me away. Because of the one school last year he is now repeating the 1st grade. Would he have had to w/o that I don’t know and can’t speculate on it. I know how bright it is and grateful others can see it as well. This years teacher happens to have been an ex Special Ed teacher and does not believe in labels only to figure out what makes each child tick and work with that to help them succeed and if she needs outside help she will find it.

My son is very literal and if things happen differently than he was taught he will argue the point with you and let you know it does not work this way. It has taken changing in that to let him know in the beginning that THIS time we are doing something like this we will see next time how we will do this same thing. I have learned I cannot say where are you shoes I now say hey dude you forgot your shoes. If I ask where they are he has no clue and has an immediate meltdown. If I make it a statement he is humorous about it and laughing and runs along to find them.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

Renee, my son has always been drawn to colors; indeed, the names of the colors were some of the first words that he learned. He is definitely very literal, too, and does best when he is told things in a simple and straightforward manner. Glad to know you have found a good teacher who understands him—we’ve moved quite a few times for our son’s education, too. Hope your son has a great school year!

http://www.myspace.com/asoutherntouch renee

So glad we are not the only ones to move around for the education of our child. This is our last time though after this we have chosen we will homeschool.

I did not believe he had Aspergers or any spectrum of Autism since he actually was a motormouth around 18 mos. He however crawled forever before finally walking, was around 10mos or so before he could sit. I chalked it all up to being a boy vs my girls. It was only last year that I started seeing what the dr. made comments to when he was 2 years old and went to the dr. for futher info last year.

You do not DARE call him Ben or anything short for Benjamin. You can call him Bug since I have called him that since birth. Good thing since there is 3 Benjamins this year in his class. The school he was in first part of last year would not allow him to go by Bug they decided it was inappropriate yet complained he took too long to write his name. I offered up for him to write Bug and she said no it wasn’t realistic he could write Ben rounds over this stupid issue so finally I said I am sorry I want to be sure he knows how to spell his full actual name so your precious classtime will now suffer since he isn’t allowed to write Bug for short. It was because of this same teacher he hated the color red she would write all her not so nice notes on his papers in red. She wanted him to know his ABC’s backwards so of course that set him off bad and all he could do is cry saying that wasn’t how his Kindegarten teacher taught him and her reply to him would be sorry this is not Kindegarten you need to realize this and grow up. I finally pulled him after I quit my corporate job but in doing that brought moving back to CO and he had wonderful teachers, counselors and such there. And the teacher he has now seems wonderful…hope it remains that way.

One thing he has done and still does for hours is lay on the floor and line his tractors, cows or cars up in just perfect lines. If it got messed up he would meltdown and once under control would start all over again. until he was about 5 yrs old he would slam his head into the concrete when frustrated. We use to joke the first time was not enough so had to slam it again to make sure the first time really hurt.

TR

The proof is always in the research, in the data. Anyone can say that something works but until it can be shown, proven and accepted by the scientific community it is nothing but a fad treatment. When some treatments, such as the gluten free diet or chelation, are glorified as “cures” what fails to be mentioned is that the child was probably also receiving some other type of therapy, be it ABA, RDI, floor time, etc., that has been proven a thousand times over to be effective. I hope that Ms. McCarthy mentions that if it is the case with her son. I have been working with children with autism for some time now, and the most important thing (regarding treatment choice) is to rely on the numbers (I have my master’s degree in behavior analysis). Many therapies in the past, as well as current and probable future, have given so many people false hope and wasted precious time (e.g. facilitated communication, holding therapy, psychomotor patterning, etc., etc.).

Linda

Here we go again. Another misdiagnosis. (McCarthy’s son has autism?) Meanwhile, many autism studies seem over-intellectualized, sluggish and vacuous—a product of government funded guesswork— where elusive experts pad last minute conclusions with intellectual drivel. The drivel drives me nuts. How can academics write so much about kids they hadn’t lived with? Much of the research involves brief studies of autistic children in institutions or group homes, as if random weekly, 15-minute visits over a few months birth healthy data, background, hypothesis and analysis. Case in point: McCarthy’s trip to the neurologist. As McCarthy herself admits, the doctor diagnosed her child after five minutes. Criteria? Hand flapping and lining up toys in a straight line. The kid was two years old. Then, slowly, the kid recovers. Well, back up folks. The kid has epilepsy. He got medication. After medication, he started talking. He made eye contact. He is social. He is normal. Not autism people. Not autism. This hypervigilance in diagnosing children with autism is exactly what is pushing truly autistic children to the back of the help line. It’s why autism research is now one of the most corrupt cash cows going. Think I’m making this up? Here’s the reality: After my son was diagnosed with autism, I dug up a California University that studied children with autism. Surely, they’d find my self injurious autistic child’s case interesting. Immediately, I explained the condition to an intake screener. “I’m sorry,” she interrupted. “It sounds like your son is too low functioning for our program. We work with higher functioning autistics. Self-injurious behavior requires extensive behavioral analysis, documentation and treatment modalities.” Flabbergasted by the screener’s unapologetic candor, I hung up. Later, I phoned another University. Again, the screener seemed uninterested in a case that didn’t have a direct bearing on a positive grant flow. Yes, it appeared treating autistic children with limited developmental skills was risky business. After all, if researchers don’t show immediate results—grant monies ceased. Consequently, more researchers than we’d like to imagine invent outcomes to keep the cash flowing.

Rita

Ignorance is bliss, is it not.

Jenny’s son has recovered. She did not have to come forward and put him in the spotlight. He is no longer having the symptoms of Autism.

I take it that all the people with negative comments have either not experienced results with biomed or have not made it a part of their child’s protocol. There will always be naysayers who cling to old science and government beauracracy. The symptoms and tx of Autism is barely even touched on in medical school. Do you really think these docs are going to educate themselves after they leave school?
My son has made a lot of progress with biomedical tx. I refuse to sit around and watch him suffer with the PHYSICAL and mental symtoms of this terrible disease. Wake up people and educate yourselves. GO JENNY!
In response to Jenny’s son not having Autism: I think that is why it is called ASD. It begins with Dyslexia, ADD,ADHD and moves up to Full Blown Autism…

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

We’ve done biomedical treatments. I hope that McCarthy might be forthcoming about her son’s particular educational program and needs, as education for autistic children (and all children, no?) is lifelong.

http://cid-0194919353f1445a.spaces.live.com/ Cliff

I’ve seen a lot of kids under biomed versus the intensive ABA I got, and to be frank I learned more for the program. And I had self-injury, I was considered low-functioning, I am not an epileptic, and I’m not sure McCarthy’s kid had that as defining the condition (it’s not my knowledge that West’s Syndrome, which is the epileptic condition known to effect smaller children, leads to autistic symptoms). Let’s remember, the kid did have ABA (I’ll admit I’m unaware of intensity).

And, yes, I ended up being called “recovered” (no biomed, and thank god for it), was stripped of the label, and was considered normal with residual behavior until, well, I knew of my diagnosis and really was able to piece together the truth (up to, I had self-diagnosed as mentally retarded or mentally dysfunctional). The only difference that had really occurred in that time is that I had learned to talk, and the other conditions remained. And, honestly, Evan’s story sounds so similar in that regard that I can only imagine that Jenny’s statements on national television are going to haunt her later, when it turns out that Evan is simply a verbal autistic.

Also, Linda, what California university gave you that info, and what was the advertisement for the program (I need this by link, not description)? I’m interested just from an advocate perspective.

I don’t think the ASD spectrum includes either dyslexia, ADD, or ADHD. My sister is ADHD, and I don’t think it’s even similar or relevant to my condition, or mine to hers.

And, again, I don’t have a “terrible disease”, and would never wanted to be treated like that. Most of the time, my “physical symptoms” have, in time, turned out to be stress and sensory caused issues as much as anything, and I don’t feel that those are necessarily bad things, as long as you tread carefully in some areas (the texture of certain foods, for example, might cause me to throw up). And, with all the good for me that autism brings, I really like my condition, which includes a good deal of my mental imagery, and don’t need to be called, in part, a “terrible disease”. And I don’t need to “wake up” about my condition, because I really understand it at a personal level which most don’t.

Cliff

Rita

I would to make another point. One can compare Autism to Cancer. There is no more such a thing as Autism as there cancer. There are different syndromes and underlying conditions in each. Autism that is produced by Calicum excitotoxicity is likely to have very different symptoms and a very different prognosis for a “cure” than is Autism from say gluten casein sensitivity or adverse reactions to vaccine constituents. Attempting to claim that someone’s child does not pass the “true” autism test because his hand flapping is sight unseen supposed to be epileptiform would be imho like claiming that a cancer patient with spontaneous regression must not really have had cancer at all. I hope that you can see the problem with that. I think that it would be wise to remember what the literal meaning of the word epidemic is. If we increasingly see “Autistic” symptoms in a large number of our population it does not really matter whether we can apply Koch’s postulates successfully.

Linda

Comparing autism to cancer is a false analogy. Cancer has always been cancer. Autism on the otherhand, has evolved into something that includes everything from a kid flapping his hands to a kid repeating a sentence and then children skipping rope, winning spelling bees and others in diapers who can’t feed themselves and are mute. This broad range of symptoms and defining characteristics for meeting the autism label hurts truly autistic persons. The fact is autism must be diagnosed before the age of 2. Then, it includes lack of social awareness and connections. Inability to relate to others. Non verbal or if verbal, speech is not conversation or answering questions of reporters like McCarthy’s son does. Likewise, lack of interest in toys, people or conventional wisdoms. Obsessions common. This include repetitive self injury. Reptetive phrases. Repetitive play or fascination with non human objects. Walking on the same path or in same room over and over. It is not a child playing left wing on a soccer team and yelling “I scored a goal” to his parents from the sideline. It is not a child reciting poems to an audience and then laughing with them and having lunch later at the local restaurant. The thing is autism had a set label years ago. Now, it’s been twisted, distorted, abused for profit, misinterpreted for grant money, peddled for power and overdiagnosed to receive special educational help. I mean this whole deal with autims is a mess. A complete travesty. A feeding frenzy of ignorant people who watched Rain Man and thought it was cute. Try spending time with children who really suffer from autism and get the false images out of your head. It’s time to solidify the diagnosis and stop the imbecilic professionals from misdiagnosing children with autism. Lastly, auidt the schools. They are a cesspool of fraud when it comes to diagnosing children with autism. First, school psychologist aren’t real pscyhologists, they aren’t licensed by board of behaivoral sciences, which most people dont’ know because they are too busy not investigating anything as they sit idle in front of TV and watch some freak show. Try reading once in awhile. I’m so sick of the lies man. It’s just a freaking joke on all levels. And the idiots who buy into this autism scam are beyond stupid. Notice how statistics show only 10% of autistic population is high functioning, and by hf, I mean like Rain Man, not like McCarthy’s son. That must make you think, right? God, I hope so. Is anyone thinking anymore? Think. think. That leaves 90% of the autistic popluation as low to mid functioning. WHERE they hell are these kids and adults? Why isn’t the media talking about them? I’ll tell you why. Because nitwits like McCarthy and others who think their kids are autistic and deep down inside know they aren’t but say NOTHING, are thwarting hope and healing for many people.

http://cid-0194919353f1445a.spaces.live.com/ Cliff

I’m thinking. Just in case I wasn’t before, I am now.

Did you see my question about the relevant California university in the post proceeding your other one?

Kanner’s autism is defined by the above, yes, but it isn’t really fair to leave it there. It’s like saying that at the exact point where an autistic learns to interact with social behaviors is the exact point at which the autistic has a complete change of mind and personality and thus is no longer autistic. This, to be honest, is kind of silly, perhaps only because I’ve been exactly describable under the Kanner criteria, and two years later I wasn’t, and yet if you had access to my mind, not my sociality, you’d realize you were still addressing very much the same kid. And if we’re talking about psychological conditions, we have to recognize that the autistic mental state isn’t equivalent to the behaviors.

Cliff

Rita

The point of the comparison was not to say Cancer is like or unlike Autism. It was to note that neither “Cancer or “Autism” is a single thing and attempting to describe it as if it were–for example by saying something as inane as “Cancer” has always been Cancer is to miss the point entirely. Everything related to Cellular replication is labeled as Cancer. Is it virally induced? Is radiologically induced? Does it metastasize or not? All we say is let’s nuke it or cut it. Anyway I do not have the time to continue with this tonight. Linda, I feel your pain but my son is in the autism spectrum. He is not rain man, he has never banged his head, he does not practice self-injurious behavior.
We thought he was shy at first. “He was such a good boy”. He would just sit and stare. My once happy boy slipped away at 18 months. I feel your pain, I hope you feel mine. I accept that the biomedical did help Jenny’s son as she says.
It has helped mine. I do not know, my son may be banging his head among other things if we had not start seeing his doc. Why can we not just accept the choices that other parents are making for their children may be helping them. There is a fourteen year old boy at my son’s montessori school who’s mom has never sought any help for him. I suggested some of the biomedical things that we are using. He is talking now. Anyway Good night to all.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

We did biomedical and my son did a lot of head-banging when he was 6-8; careful teaching helped him learn to manage it, and also to better communicate his needs (Charlie does not have a lot of language; he is 10). We do tend to talk about autism using the medical terminology and discouse of diseases like cancer, but the analogies are limited: Susan Sontag has written about how AIDS has often been spoken of in the same way as cancer has been. The biomedical model of autism tends to overlook the key role of education and attribute everything to a biomedical/environmental cause, rather than to see these as produced by a child having a very different kind of neurological wiring.

Very glad to know about your son’s progress—-

heather t.

I disagree with anyone who is ripping Jenny M. apart. She is only telling her story to give any parent that needs a little hope just that. She never claims to be a dr. or never claims that her choices in therapy were the only ones for everyone. If one person gets advice, that works for them, on any of the shows that Jenny has been on, then why criticize her for just sharing her pain and her story to benefit even that one person. She hurts like we all do. Like someone mentioned before, if you disagree, then just ignore it. We all have our own daily battles & deal with them the best we know how. We are all learning something new each and every day. We need love, support, research, and opinions or ideas of others to get to where we need to be individualy, not hatred.
I say however Jenny is using her image to get attention drawn to this issue as long as it is helping her son &/or others than so be it!

Rita

I agree it is a multi pronged approach. We are not just doing biomedical. We have done ABA etc.

There must be a proper scientific basis for all of this.

No of us know what the truth is regarding Autism so lets pull together to solve this. Truth starts with a good defitnition of the problem we do not have that yet.

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

Indeed, yes; it’s all the more important to be aware of how our views are colored by preconceptions; a comparison of autism to cancer needs to be approached with care.

Rita

What I have been saying for the last three postings is precisely about comparing the misconceptions about both Cancer and Autism and not autism to cancer. It is a history and philosophy of science question, not a scientific question. This has been interesting and enlightening for me. I have enjoyed reading all of your comments.

colleen

DEAR AMY GOODMEN,

WE NEED TO GIVE AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE A REAL RUN FOR ITS MONEY..AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE CANNOT BE CURED UNLESS THE PEOPLE CAN INCLINE THE ESTABLISHMENT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REVIEW THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE BODY AND ITS INTERNAL SPECIALIST CONCERNING NUTRIENTS AND DISEASE …I AM NOT A DOCTOR NOR A RESEARCHER I AM JUST A COMMON PERSON THAT HAS FOUND A MAJOR DISRUPTION IN THE ESTABLISHMENT’S WAY OF THINKING AND IF IT IS NOT CHANGED BY NORMAL PEOPLE IT WILL NOT BE CHANGED AT ALL.. I HOPE THIS LETTER WILL BE FOOD FOR THOUGHT CAUSE IT CAN ALL BE DOCUMENTED BY BOOKS OLD AND NEW…AND PEOPLE AFFLICTED WITH AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES, DEPEND ON PEOPLE BECOMING MOTIVATED…WE MUST REVISIT THE PART NUTRIENTS PLAY IN CURING DISEASES.. AND WE MUST STOP ALLOWING NUTRIENT INHIBITING AGENTS FROM BEING ADDED TO OUR FOOD-CHAIN…AND GENETICALLY TAMPERED FOOD, MUST BE REVISTIED…OUR BODY’S ARE A COMPLICATED COMPLEX NETWORK OF SYSTEMS, NOT JUST A MASS OF MEAT AND FLESH THROWED OVER SOME OLD BONES, LIKE AN OLE TENT THROWN ON SOME OLD STICKS…

BY AN EXTRACTIVE PROCESS I BELIEVE I HAVE COME UP WITH THE CAUSE OF ALL AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE …THERE ARE TWO ACIDS THAT ARE COMPONENTS OF ONE INGREDIENT THAT IS ADDED TO 90% OF THE PROCESSED FOOD..THESE TWO ACIDS ARE ONLY SUPPOSE TO BE CONSUMED IN MODERATION BECAUSE THEY INHIBIT THE BODY’S CELLS FROM ABSORBING NUTRIENTS..THE EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF THESE ACIDS CAUSE THE CELLS TO GO INTO A STARVATION MODE WHICH TRIGGERS THE INTERNAL SPECIALIST SYSTEMS..{ THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK SYSTEMS AND THE CHEMORECEPTORS AND THE HORMONES} AND INSTANTLY THESE INTERNAL SYSTEMS INSTIGATE A POWERFUL RESPONSE TO CORRECT THIS STARVATION IN THE CELLS ..WITH THE TWO ACIDS(oxalic and phytic acid which are components in SOY) IN EXCESS THE BODY CANNOT RETURN BACK TO A NORMAL BALANCE {homeostasis}, BECAUSE THE ACIDS HAVE SATURATED THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT (the interstitial fluid, the ground substance})…AND EVEN THOUGH HOMEOSTASIS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED THE INTERNAL SYSTEMS CONTINUE TO STRIVE TOWARD THAT GOAL BY UTILIZING ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR CORRECTION ATTEMPTS.. AFTER A TIME THE SYMPTOMS FROM THE DISRUPTION BEGINS TO MANIFEST ITSELF AND AT THIS TIME DOCTORS ARE ALERTED OF A PROBLEM… SO THEY RUN THEIR TEST AND THEY SEE THE CORRECTION ATTEMPTS AND PERCEIVE THEM AS ABNORMALTIES, SO THEY NAME THIS AN UNKNOWN CAUSE, UNKNOWN CURE AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE… AND THEY BEGAN TREATING JUST THE ADJUSTMENTS, THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE INTERNAL SPECIALIST AS CORRECTION ATTEMPTS….THE DOCTORS HAVE ONLY BEEN ALERTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISRUPTION NOT AT THE BEGINNING, SO THEY ARE WORKING ANTAGONISTICALLY TO THE BODY’S INTERNAL SPECIALIST..THIS IS WHY THEY PERCEIVE THE BODY AS WORKING AGAINST ITSELF.. WHEN IN ACTUALLITY THE BODY IS FOCUSED IN ITS ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE A PRECISE GOAL, WHICH THE DOCTORS HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED TO..AND SINCE THE DOCTORS MISTAKENLY ASSUMED THE CORRECTION ATTEMPTS WERE THE PROBLEM, THEY BECOME COMPLACENT IN THEIR DIAGNOSIS..AND SO THE TWO ACIDS CONTINUE TO DESTROY THE CELLS AND CAUSE INTERNAL DISRUPTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCEALED BY THE COMPLACENCY AND THE MIS-DIAGNOSIS..AND THE PATIENTS FINALLY SUCCUMB TO THE NUTRIENT STARVATION IN THE CELLS.. IF THE DOCTORS WOULD HAVE UTILIZED THE INTERNAL SPECIALIST INFORMATION THEY COULD HAVE QUICKLY FOUND THE DISRUPTION AND REMOVED THE INHIBITANT AND REPLACED THE DEFICIENT NUTRIENTS WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR A COMPLETE CURE AS THE BODY RETURNED TO ITS HOMEOSTASIS BALANCE….

IN MY OPINION THE FOLLOWING DISRUPTIONS IN NUTRIENT ABSORPTION ARE THE CAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING DISEASES ..BOTH IRON AND CALCIUM ABSORPTION BY THE CELLS IS HINDERED BY THESE TWO ACIDS IN EXCESS..
HEART DISEASE :THESE TWO ACIDS BLOCK CALCIUM ABSORPTION BY THE CELLS WHICH LEAD TO DEFICIENT CALCIUM IONS , SO THE BODY PERCEIVES THE BLOOD SUPPLY IS TOO DEFICIENT TO RUN THE HEART PUMPING MECHANISM AND ACTIVATES THE INTERNAL LOW BLOOD PRESSUE NEG. FEEDBACK SYSTEM AND THE SHOCK RESPONSE , AND THE STRESS RESPONSE..ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE TO RAISE THE BLOOD PRESSURE… HORMONES ARE RELEASED AND VEINS ARE CONSTRICTED IN LESS-ESSENTIAL AREAS SUCH AS KIDNEY’S AND DIGESTION..THE HOMEOSTASIS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED AND SO OVERTIME THE HORMONES ARE RELEASED IN EXCESS CREATING FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSES…AND THESE ARE THE ABNORMALTIES THAT THE DOCTORS PERCEIVE TO BE UNKNOWN CAUSE UNKNOWN CURE AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE…

THE EXCESSIVE ACTIVATION OF THESE HORMONES ENHANCES THE HOMEOSTASIS IMBALANCES…AND CREATE FURTHER DISRUPTIONS…
EXCESSIVE SECRETION OF THE HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE ALONE CAUSES DIABETES, BUT THE INSOLUBLE IRON COMPLEXES CREATED BY THESE TWO ACIDS ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME RESULTS..
DIABETES: THE BODY IS UNABLE TO UTILZIE THE INSOLUBLE IRON COMPLEXES WHICH LEADS TO A DEFICIENCY IN OXYGEN IN THE CELLULAR RESPIRATION PROCESS…THE OXYGEN DEF. CAUSES A DISRUPTION IN THE METABOLISM OF ATPs (cell energy)..A DISRUPTION IN ATP METABOLISM LEADS TO DECREASED BODY HEAT AND DECREASED METABOLIC WATER…DEF. METABOLIC WATER CAUSES DEHYDRATION WHICH CAUSES THIRST TO BE TRIGGERED…THE CELL STARVATION FOR NUTRIENTS DOES NOT ALLOW THE “SATISFIED” SATIETY CENTER TO BE STIMULATED AND SO HUNGER PERSIST (obesity, and eating disorders)… THE DECLINING METABOLISM OF ATPs TRIGGER THE SECRETION OF THE HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE TO BLOCK THE CELLS ABSORPTION OF GLUCOSE, TO PERSERVE THE GLUCOSE FOR NEURONS TO HAVE A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY FOR THEIR ATP PRODUCTION , BUT THE LACK OF ATP IS NOT A LOW GLUCOSE PROBLEM BUT A DISRUPTION IN THE ATP METABOLISM SO THE GLUCOSE BECOMES EXCESSIVE BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE UTILIZED FOR CELL ENERGY…AS THE GLUCOSE BECOMES EXCESSIVE IT EXCEEDS ITS TRANSPORT MAXIUM AND SPILL OVER INTO THE URINE TAKING WATER WITH IT AND CAUSING LARGE VOLUMES OF URINE TO BE EXCRETED…THE EXCESSIVE GLUCOSE CAUSES A HIGH -CONCENTRATED SUGAR SOLUTION, WHICH CREATES AN OSMOTIC EFFECT THAT CAUSES THE ENDOTHELIAL CELLS TO SHRINK AND PULL APART TO OPEN UP GAPS IN TIGHT JUNCTIONS…IN TURN INCREASED PERMEABILITY OF THE ENDOTHELIAL-CAPSULAR MEMBRANE ALLOWS PROTEINS TO ESCAPE FROM THE BLOOD INTO URINE, CAUSING PROTEINURIA (nephritic syndrome) WHICH CAUSES EDEMA, HYPERLIPIDEMIA, HIGH BLOOD LEVELS OF CHOLESTEROL/ PHOSPHOLIPIDS / TRIGLYCERIDES, AND DEFICIENCY IN ALBUMIN… A DEFICIENCY IN ALBUMIN ALLOWS FURTHER DISRUPTION IN THE OSMOTIC PRESSURE….ALL SYMPTOMS THAT STEM FROM THE NUTRIENT INHIBITATION THAT ARE DIAGNOSISED AS AUTO-IMMUNE ..

CONCERNING AIDS: THE 2ND STAGE STRESS RESPONSE, RESISTANCE REACTION, TRIGGERS THE SECRETION OF CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE (CRH)….(CRH) STIMULATES INCREASE SECRETION OF (ACTH) WHICH STIMULATES MORE SECRETION OF CORTISOL (the main glucocorticoid).THESE HORMONES MAKE UP THE NEG. FEEDBACK TRIGGERS OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE ….CORTISOL IN EXCESS SUPPRESSES THE PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN -1 WHICH IS THE COSTIMULATOR OF THE T4 HELPER CELLS, AND THE T4 HELPER CELLS REMAIN INACTIVE UNTIL INTERLEUKIN -1 STIMULATES IT…SO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS DISRUPTED….

GLUCOCORTICOIDS (CORTISOL) REDUCES CHRONIC INFLAMMATION TO KEEP IT FROM BECOMING DISRUPTIVE RATHER THEN PROTECTIVE.. AND REDUCES THE NUMBER OF MAST CELLS TO REDUCE THE RELEASE OF HISTAMINE, DECREASES BLOOD CAPILLARY PERMEABILITY, DEPRESSESS PHAGOCYTOSIS, AND RETARDS CONNECTIVE TISSUE REPAIR, CAUSES SEVER MENTAL DISTURBANCES AND DEPRESSESS THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

THE INSOLUBLE IRON LEADS TO AN EXCESS OF EMPTY IRON BINDING SITES…THIS MEANS EXCESS HISTIDINE.. AND HISTIDINE CATABOLISED CREATES HISTAMINE..
THE HISTAMINE PLAYS A MAJOR PARTS IN INFLAMMATION, ALLERGIC REACTION, AND FURTHER INCREASES CAPILLARY PERMEABILITY…
AND SO YOU HAVE A FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE INVOLVING HISTAMINE AND GLUCOCRTICOIDS.. WHICH LEADS TO DISTURBANCES SUCH AS LEUKEMIA, SCLERODERMA, CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISRUPTIONS, ALLERGIES, ATHRITISIS, OSTEOPOROSIS AND OTHER BONE DISEASES, IMMUNE DISRUPTIONS, AND MENTAL PROBLEMS….
MY OPINION ON LEUKEMIA IS THE WHITE BLOOD CELLS COULD BE LEAKING INTO CIRCULATION THROUGH THE DISRUPTED CAPILLARY MEMBRANES(diapedesis), WITH EXCESSIVE ACTIAVATION FOR AN INFLAMMATION RESPONSE EVEN IF THE INFLAMMATION IS SURPRESSED..

THE DISRUPTION OF THE MAST CELLS BY EXCESSIVE CORTISOL SECRETION LEADS TO AN IMBALANCE IN THE BASOPHIL CELLS CAUSING DISRUPTIONS IN THE BALANCE OF HEPARIN AND DISRUPTS THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE CLOTTING AND ANTICLOTTING PROCESS IN THE BODY..

THE GROUND SUBSTANCE OF THE MATRIX IS DISRUTPED BY THE NUTRIENT DISRUPTION CAUSING THE ADHESIVE TO BECOME DILUTED..
AND THE COLLAGEN PRODUCTION IS DISRUPTED BY THE DEF. OSTEOCLAST AND EXCESSIVE OSTEOBLAST DISRUPTION CAUSE BY THE DISRUPTION IN THE CALCIUM ABSORPTION..THUS SYMPTOMS OF SCLERODERMA BEGIN…

OSTEOCLAST AND OSTEOBLAST ARE DISRUPTED DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE INSOLUBLE CALCIUM SALTS THAT COLLECT AND SATURATE THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT…THIS CAUSES THE PARATHYROID HORMONE SECRETION TO BE INHIBITED AND ITS AFFECTS NULLIFIED…THUS THE CALCIUM/PHOSPHATE REGULATING PROCESS IS DISRUPTED WITH THE PTH/ CALCITONIN NEG. FEEDBACK SYSTEM DISRUPTION.. WHICH IS THE BEGINNING ROOT CAUSE OF ALL AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE IN MY OPINION…

THE BRAIN AND NERVE CELL DISEASES AS PARKINSON’S, ALZHEIMER’S, BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER BREACHERS, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ARE ALL SYMPTOMS OF THE LACK OF OXYGEN IN THE BRAIN CAUSING THE LYSOSOMES TO BECOME FRAGILE AND BURST RELEASING ENZYMES THAT DESTROY THE NERVE CELLS, NEURONS AND NEUROGLIA…CAUSING DESTRUCTION OF THE DOMPAMINE GENERATING NEURONS, THE MYELIN SHEATH CELLS, THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER MEMBRANE CELLS, AND THE PLAQUE REMOVING CELLS, AND THE NETWORK INSULATING CELLS..
AND THE INSOLUBLE IRON DISRUPTS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE RED NUCLEUI IN THE SENSORY MOTOR PATHWAY……WE NEED OFFICIALS TO GET MOTIVATED TO ERADICATE AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE …JANUARY 26, 2007 BLOOMBERG TV REPORTED “TAKING FOLIC ACID MAY PREVENT CLEFT LIP, STUDY SHOW” THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS I HAVE A BOOK ON MY DESK THAT SAYS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1957 IN THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE DR. LYNDON A. PEER REPORTED THAT ANIMAL STUDIES SHOWED WHEN FOLIC ACID WAS ADDED WITH B6 AND FED TO MICE BEING INJECTED WITH CORTISONE …CORTISONE CAUSED CLEFT PALATES TO DEVELOP IN 85% OF THE OFFSPRING… THE OCCURANCE OF CLEFT LIP COULD BE REDUCED BY 65% WHEN B6 AND FOLIC ACID WERE ADDED IN COMBINATION… B6 ALONE REDUCED IT 45% AND WHEN COMBINED WITH FOLIC ACID THE OCCURANCE WAS REDUCED TO 20%…A 65% REDUCTION…WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS WHERE DID A 50 YEAR SPAN OF RESEARCH GO..IS THERE NO GENERATIONAL TRANSFERENCE OF KNOWLEDGE, OR IS KNOWLEDGE BEING ACCUMULATED THAT SLOW THAT IT TAKES 50 YEARS TO REPORT ON A FINDING? THERE IS NOT MUCH HOPE FOR THE STRICKEN PEOPLE MOVING AT THIS RATE…

My daughter has just turned 4. I realized something was wrong at 6 months old. The doctors said she’s fine. That was not the case.My child has been getting O.T., S.T.,P.T., since she was 11 months old. It is very frustrating because the doctors do not have answers. I strongly believe Lead in the water,Toys,& other enviornmental factors have alot to do with it.I think Jenny is on the right track. I also believe if we can stop symptoms with a diet .( Where’s the Money in that for the Medical Community? )

http://www.autismvox.com Kristina Chew, PhD

More research funds are starting to be directed towards environmental studies, as some at U.C. Davis’ M.I.N.D. Institute. Was she diagnosed when she was a year old?

Pat Foster

In addition to the many vaccines given to children, has anyone considered the effects of the numerous ultrasounds given during pregnancy as a contributing factor toward autism? Autism was not heard of as much years ago when ultrasounds were not part of a pregnant woman’s doctor visit. I would think that any amount of radiation on a developing baby could be very harmful.